Shoot or No Shot 2019 - Episode #4

[WapitiTalk1]

Location: Somewhere in the elk woods
Hunt Pressure Status: Minimal
Hunt: Partner Hunt
Tag: Archery; 3 PT or better bull

Allrighty then! You and your buddy are having an epic year. Your buddy dropped a really nice 5 point on the second day of the season and it’s currently down at the wild game processor chilling till your hunt is over. On this fine day in the elk woods, you’re working up a large NE facing side hill that contains all the classic elk habitat (benches, plenty of water including several seeps with wallows, and some known bedding areas).. and..... you’re pretty sure it contains elk. As you head up the sidehill, wind in your snouts, before daylight….. you hear a big boy singing his song and it sounds like he’s moving from right to left. Up, up the hillside you go like a couple of roosters with an itch keeping track of the singer best you can from his vocalization. Yep, sounds like he’s moving from feed to bed somewhere higher on the hill. Move quickly, listen, move quickly, listen…… and BAM… you hear Bullwinkle coming from right to left, seemingly coming towards you and the edge of the bench you just set up on…
OK, back to the moment in the image. From right to left, here come the gals….. one, two, three, five cows moving with a purpose across the semi open bench and “SCREAMMMMM” comes from behind them and you see the battle worn antlers coming behind the cows. Shooter is set up and draws his bow as soon as the bull clears the brush and steps into the opening (shooter is 35 yards from the bull). Caller is back down the hill a bit, probably 50 yards from where the bull stands now. The cows and the bull are unaware of the hunters up to this point. And………… DANG IT, your buddy, the caller blasts out a loud nervous bark/grunt, stopping the bull in his tracks! Your buddy shoulda waited a bit longer to toot his horn but oh well, it is what it is and as the shooter in this situation….. your “shoot or no shot” moment is at hand. Shoot or no shot here?

If you're shooting, save the picture to your desktop and open in MS Paint, then place a spot, X, or whatever on the critter before you save it back to a jpg or png and add the marked up pic with your post.

[Swede]

Since I am at full draw, I will shoot. It would take too long to draw, sight the bow on the bull and then shoot, but it hardly makes a difference if I let down slowly or if I squeeze the trigger. As Elvis sang "it's now or never my elk won't wait."

Bigboy1%20%20Mark%20Up.jpg (98.1 KiB) Viewed 4138 times

[Lefty]

If I’m looking correctly , with archery I’m waiting for a better shot

With a rifle: 8 inches forward and 3 down from Swedes if I’m not waiting for a better rifle shot tooth

[Swede]

WapitiTalk1 must have stumped folks on this on as only two of us has ventured an opinion. Of coarse Lefty is all wrong. He does not realize that the bull would have already seen him if he was not against a bush or something. That disguise along with the bull having his focus on the caller will give you tat split second to get an arrow into him.

[Lefty]

,,,,, Of coarse Lefty is all wrong. ,,,,.

Of course Swede is taking the shot, he is up in a tree in the callers position Hes not waiting on the shooter!!!

Let that bull finish peeing,....That bull is so in lust his tongue is hanging out. He may see us but doesn't care. You're not a hot cow,...., He is licking his lips and turning towards the ladies with plans of real action behind the trees and bushes.

[lilshootergirl]

Shoot 3" below his dark hair below his throat! Corey Jacobson did a nice shot with his bow, rifle the same

[WapitiTalk1]

Shoot 3" below his dark hair below his throat! Corey Jacobson did a nice shot with his bow, rifle the same

LSG, do a pic with a spot for me so I can see what you’re talking about.

[Trumkin the Dwarf]

There's no shot there. 35 yards is way too far for a frontal shot, which is what the shooter would have in that situation. As shooter, I'm waiting quietly. He's got cows ahead... the wind is fine all around... A shot will develop.

[Lefty]

There's no shot there. 35 yards is way too far for a frontal shot, which is what the shooter would have in that situation. As shooter, I'm waiting quietly. He's got cows ahead... the wind is fine all around... A shot will develop.

Well there is but I think you need to be close and shooting a faster and heavy arrow than what Im shooting.

But I completely agree A shot will develop.

[Trumkin the Dwarf]

Something to remember here, and I'm drawing from my own experience. Elk are straight up suckers for that nervous grunt!

I remember spooking a cow, at 10 yards, and after she ran to 60, calling her back to 40 with that popping grunt. She couldn't see the elk, but she knew it HAD to be there. If the first one doesn't stop them in the right spot, and you don't let them see you, often they'll lock up a second or third time.

[Roosiebull]

i'm not shooting (way too far with my recurve )

even with my compound, that's getting close to the max range I like to shoot, and don't like the angle (me shooting one in the shoulder last year will be fresh in my mind) he is a stud, I know adrenaline will be flowing, and it's not the "layup" shot i'm looking for

[Swede]

Roosie, it is good to read your nonsense again. Of coarse your recurve can handle 35 yards. You just need to practice more.

[Roosiebull]

Roosie, it is good to read your nonsense again. Of coarse your recurve can handle 35 yards. You just need to practice more.

I have never been good at showcasing the effective range of ANY weapon